Callum Johnson says spirits are still high in the Stanley camp as they go on the hunt for their first League One win in four games at Rotherham United on Saturday.
The 19th placed Reds are aiming to move back up the table when they travel to the Aesseal New York Stadium with the Millers, who were relegated from the Championship last season, two points outside the Play-Offs.
Stanley are looking to re-find their form after their FA Cup loss to League Two Crewe on Saturday which was described as a ‘low point’ by boss John Coleman.
“No one likes getting beat but we have to keep spirits as high as we can,” said Johnson. “You obviously enjoy it a lot more when you are winning games and that’s what we have to get back to.
“The Crewe performance wasn’t good enough but we have watched it, analysed it and we have spoken to each other about it and been open and honest.
“We know we can improve and the big motivation is showing how we can play over the next few games. We know we are better than that and it’s important over the next few weeks that we get back to playing how we know we can.
“This is the time when we have a lot of games coming up and you can pick up a lot of points in a short space of time to help us climb the league.
“We have obviously learnt over the last season-and-a-half that mistakes get punished in this league but you still have to be confident. Players do take risks but we have to know when to take the risk as if it’s too high, then there is a big chance it will be punished. We need to get the balance right.”
There will be changes in the backline with regular centre half Mark Hughes suspended and Aji Alese on international duty.
“We will miss Mark as he talks a lot and he has a lot of experience but Ross (Sykes) also talks a lot and Dimi (Evtimov) communicates all the time.
“Someone else will come in and it’s an opportunity for them, we have a good squad here so whoever comes in will want to grab the opportunity.
“We know Rotherham will be a tough game, we know a couple of their players, and it’s a Championship stadium but we will go there looking to cause an upset.”